Peterborough United are still on the lookout for their first League point of the season. Can they get it at Hull City?
Hull City -Vs- Peterborough United
Venue: KC Stadium
Date: 29th September, 2012
Kick-off: 3pm
Darren Ferguson has been racking his brains this week trying to work out the formula to bring Posh success this season.
After last weeks defeat, Fergie said he knew what he needed to do but one thing that he ruled out was making any loan signings! Is this Fergie`s stubborn side raising its head again after he admitted at the start of this season that the squad of players he now has is the best he`s ever had and doesn`t want to be proved wrong as he sticks with the squad of players he`s got?
Hull are unbeaten at home this season having scored eight goals in their three League matches while conceding just two goals. After narrowly beating the current Championship leaders Brighton 1-0 on the opening day of the season, the Tigers have demolished both Bolton Wanderers 3-1 and Millwall 4-1 so it is going to be very tough for Posh to get anything out of this game. Hull did suffer a 3-1 reverse in their last outing at Leicester City last weekend.
TEAM NEWS
Hull City
Manager Steve Bruce will choose between Liam Rosenior and Andy Dawson should Joe Dudgeon fail to recover from a knee injury while Jack Hobbs, a former Spalding Grammar School student, and Tom Cairney are definitely ruled out through injury.
Striker Matty Fryatt may return to the squad if he recovers from an Achilles injury.
Former Posh forward Aaron McLean hasn`t seen much action this season so far having started most games on the bench.
Peterborough United
Having had the pleasure of a fully fit squad for just over a week which has also seen the squad undertaking double sessions in preparation for this fixture, Darren Ferguson could ring some changes to a team that have lost all seven League games so far this season.
Tommy Rowe [pictured below] could feature for the first time this season after recovering from a nasty shoulder injury he picked up in pre-season match at St Neots. Although he ended up as the number one choice at left back last season, the emergence of teenager Kgosi Ntlhe at left back could see Rowe return to the left midfield slot.
The back four could remain the same unless Craig Alcock has increased his fitness which has been seriously lacking this season (along with his form!).
The midfield and forward positions are where the most changes could be made.
After the disappointment of giving the ball away and then conceding a penalty while trying to retrieve the ball against Wolves on Saturday, Grant McCann could slip back onto the subs bench with Michael Bostwick moving from the right side of midfield, which didn`t suit him at all against Wolves, to the base of the diamond.
George Boyd started the Wolves game on the bench after some disappointing performances but his performance when coming on could earn him a recall to the starting line-up.
A question mark surrounds Nathaniel Mendez-Laing as his performance against Wolves surely proves that he is not suited to a forward position. He should return to the right side of midfield but that leaves a spare starting place in the forward line alongside Tyrone Barnett.
16-year-old Jaanai Gordon-Hutton came off the subs bench to make his debut against Wolves which raises doubts about the future of forward Emile Sinclair.
It is safe to say that since Paul Taylor left for Ipswich Town during the recent transfer window, Posh are struggling to find a suitable replacement to partner Barnett. Teenagers Gordon-Hutton and Clarke-Harris are both “ones for the future” while Lee Tomlin and Emile Sinclair are simply not good enough for a starting slot in the forward line. It`ll be a toss-up between Sinclair and Tomlin as to who starts though as Posh have no other players in this position!
Midfielder Danny Swanson is back in the squad after recovering from injury and should start on the bench alongside Kane Ferdinand who brought some energy to the Posh midfield when coming on for McCann against Wolves at half-time.
The one first team squad player that isn`t available for selection is striker Dave Hibbert. Having suffered a long term injury, he is now close to full fitness and will participate in some reserve team fixtures before being considered for the first team.
Vital Posh predicts the starting line-up will be:
Olejnik
Little, Zakuani, Knight-Percival, Ntlhe
Bostwick
Mendez-Laing Rowe
Boyd
Tomlin, Barnett
HOTSHOTS
Hull City
4 – Simpson
3 – Faye
2 – Aluko
Peterborough United
4 – Lee Tomlin
2 – George Boyd
2 – Paul Taylor
REFEREE
Premiership referee MICHAEL OLIVER takes charge of this clash.
To find out details of how he has performed this season and when he last took charge of Hull and Posh, click HERE. It is optimistic reading for Posh fans!
He will be assisted by Darren England and Simon Long.
The fourth official is Philip Gibbs.
PREDICTION
Posh will be desperate to get something from this game but it will be massively difficult with Hull having a 100% win record at home so far this season.
Hull did the double over Posh last season winning both games 1-0 and it will be another close affair this time around.
Vital Posh predicts a close match which may even see their record of 128 matches since a scoreless draw broken. Posh to draw: 0 – 0.
UP THE POSH Follow me on Twitter: @mwl1967
Photos/images courtesy of www.theposhpics.com and www.football-league.co.uk.
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